Multi-dimensional Investigations of Negative Emotions and Drug-resistant Auditory Verbal Hallucinations in Psychosis

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Status: Completed

Conditions: Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Hallucinations, Auditory

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03449407

Mood&AVH

Details and patient eligibility

About

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) are commonly reported as source of distress, disability and mortality in schizophrenia. Despite proven efficacy of antipsychotics, many patients still experience drug-refractory AVH. It has been postulated that AVH is maintained by negative emotions. Yet, little is known about the temporal relationship and underlying mechanisms between negative affect and AVH. Utilizing both an ecologically-validated method and brain imaging technique, this study aims to uncover the role of emotions in the maintenance of psychotic symptoms.

Enrollment: 47 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 18 to 65 years
• Clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorder
• Present hallucinations

Exclusion criteria

• Left-handedness
• Intellectual disability
• Organic psychosis